Blondie #2 (my younger daughter) and I keep up on The Bachelor together. I know that may sound weird, but it actually provides good Dad/Daughter conversations about dating, guy/girl relationships, etc.
I haven’t spoken to my daughter about this episode yet. And I know she already knows this, so this is more for others in this stage of life. Here is my general thought after watching this evening’s episode and seeing beautiful young women depart in tears, not chosen, and blaming themselves, and saying they wish they knew what it was because if they knew, they would “fix it”. Here is my my pastoral and fatherly word to all young people.. men or women .. who are in that wonderful, delightful, terrifying, exciting, embarrassing, deflating, exhilarating time of life known as “dating”…
Know This:
You do NOT need to “FIX” anything. You are a wonderful, intentionally-brought-into-the-world-by-a-God-who-LOVES-you creation of wonder, intelligence and beauty. You are a marvel… as YOU. NOT as someone else who you may be tempted to think you are supposed to be or need to be.
Do NOT let the world (or even another person) define you or your worth, your “beauty” or your value. God created you to be YOU.. .and the more you grow in confidence of who that wonder, YOU, IS… the more your joy and beauty (inner and outer) will radiate to the world. You do not need to be “fixed,” dear people looking for the love of your life. You are already the whole package.
So, be YOU. Develop YOU. Grow in YOU.. and let Christ shine in and through you, and that love.. that RIGHT love.. WILL enter your life… in God’s perfect and purposeful time and place.
You are loved.
+ Pastor Jonathan, Dad, Friend